FAQs

There are many signs that may indicate that you could benefit from therapy. Some common signs include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness
• Low self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth
• Difficulty managing stress or coping with everyday challenges
• Difficulty with relationships or communication
• Difficulty with work performance
• A major life transition or change, such as a career move, kids leaving home etc
• Inability to cope after a loss such as the death of a loved one, a beloved pet, a divorce, financial hardship etc 
• Addictions getting out of hand
• Body image issues or low self-esteem and self-worth
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as chronic pain or fatigue
• Self-harm / suicidal thoughts or actions

If you are experiencing any of these issues, it may be helpful to consider seeking the assistance of a mental health professional. Therapy can be a powerful tool for improving mental health and well-being, and it can help you learn new coping skills and strategies for managing your challenges.

Counselling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably to refer to treatment for mental health conditions and emotional difficulties. They both involve talking to a trained professional about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The therapist aims to gain insight into your circumstances, to help you resolve your problems and improve your wellbeing. 

There are subtle differences between counselling and psychotherapy. In general, counselling tends to focus on specific, practical issues and concerns, and it is often shorter term in nature. Whereas psychotherapy tends to be more in-depth and longer term.

Health providers generally offer both counselling and psychotherapy services. You don't need to know what therapeutic services you specifically require; your needs will be discussed in your initial appointment. 

Ultimately, the most important thing is to find a mental health professional who is trained and qualified to help you address your specific needs and concerns. It's also important to find a therapist who you feel comfortable working with and who you feel is a good fit for you.

There are many different approaches to therapy, and the right approach for you will depend on your specific needs and goals. This is important to keep in mind as no one approach is right for everyone, and it may take some trial and error to find the approach that works best for you. 

During your initial consult, we can discuss your specific needs and goals to determine the best approach for you, including whether I’m the right fit for you as a therapist.

Yes – I offer both. Choose the format that works best for you. Sydney CBD face to face sessions are available or you might find it more convenient to do sessions from home via zoom or phone. 

I offer weekday and evening appointments, as well as some weekend sessions. After we’ve had our initial free phone consultation, and you’re happy to go ahead, you can choose your preferred day and time for your next appointment. Most clients like to attend at the same day and time each week.

Our initial session is 1 hour and 15-minutes so we can go through:

• The therapy process

• Learn about your situation

• Create a plan for how to proceed based on the issues you bring to therapy

After that, standard sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or fortnightly based on your unique circumstances.  

The number of sessions required depends on what outcomes you want to achieve and the complexity of your issues. We can discuss this in your initial session.

I don’t believe therapy should only be available to those who can afford to pay expensive fees, so I charge reasonable rates. 

Our initial, 1 hour and 15-minute session is $125; and then regular 50-minute sessions are $95. 

Note: Some clients with complex mental health issues may require 60-minute sessions at $160.

Payment is requested on the day of each session can be made via:

• EFTPOS 

• Cash

• Bank transfer

• Pay ID

Health Insurance rebates: I offer Health Insurance rebates through a range of providers including: Bupa, Doctors Health Fund, Teachers Health, Medibank, ahm, Police Health Fund, Saint Luke’s, Phoenix Health, Emergency Services Health, Grand United.  If your fund is not listed here, please ask.

Medicare rebates: I don’t offer Medicare rebates through Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP), but my session fee is generally equal to (or less than) the gap fee you would have to pay for Medicare rebates. This also means you don’t need a referral or a mental health diagnosis, and strict confidentiality is maintained.

NDIS fees: NDIS fees are charged as per the standard NDIS schedule. An Invoice is sent after each session and payment would be appreciated within 7 days.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) fees: If you are a business owner or employer and require EAP work, please contact me to discuss pricing and payment options.  

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, so I’m here to make the process as simple and easy as possible.

Step 1 - Connect

If you’ve been to therapy before, you know how important it is to feel like you “click” with your therapist. Schedule a free consult with me to decide if I’m the right fit for you. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and see if you feel a connection.

Step 2 – Understand

In our sessions, let me learn about what’s going on for you. Together we can then shed light on where your challenges may have started, make some connections between past and present, and  understand why obstacles are now keeping you “stuck”.

Step 3 – Grow

By cultivating new ways of looking at things, and identifying your unique strengths and inner resources, you’ll feel more empowered to create the kind of life you truly want to live. Together, we’ll work on a plan to get you where you want to be.

There’s nothing you need to do to prepare for your first session, but there are a few things you can do to make sure you make the most of your time.

• Reflect on your goals for therapy: What do you hope to achieve through therapy? What specific issues do you want to address? 
• Write down any questions you have: It's natural to have questions before starting therapy. You might consider writing down any questions you have so you can ask me during your first session.
• Think about what you want to share: Therapy sessions often involve discussing personal situations, thoughts, and feelings. While it's okay to take your time and go at your own pace, it can be helpful to think about what you might want to share in your first session.
• Consider any concerns you have: If you're feeling nervous or unsure about therapy, it can be helpful to write down your concerns and bring them up in your first session so they can be addressed.

Therapy is a safe and confidential space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. It's okay to be honest and authentic, I’m here to help you work through whatever is on your mind.

Your therapy sessions are entirely confidential. The information discussed will not be released to anyone unless there is serious concern you are a danger to yourself or others. This will be discussed  fully during our first session to ensure you have no concerns.

I will only take bookings from the person requiring therapy. 

If you are assisting someone to find a suitable therapist, I can provide you with information about my practice such as therapy services, experience, and pricing to help you, but the individual must ultimately make the booking. 

"Beverley Stewart – Counselling / Psychotherapy / Groups" is not a crisis service. However, there are many services available to Australians requiring support. 

National Emergency Services

Provides immediate crisis support and should be contacted if you or someone you know if in danger. 

Phone: 000

Lifeline

Provides crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians. 

Phone: 13 11 14

Mental Health Line

Provides professional help and advice for everyone. 

Phone: 1800 011 511

Beyond Blue

Provides support to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses. 

Phone: 1300 22 4636

Suicide Call Back Service

Provides a free service for people who are suicidal, or caring for someone who is suicidal, bereaved by suicide or are health professionals supporting people affected by suicide. 

Phone: 1300 659 467

13YARN

Providing all Aboriginal and Torres Strate Islanders experiencing a personal crisis with 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Phone: 13 92 76

Pink skies are to remind us of 3 important facts of life:

1) Change is coming. 

“Pink sky at night, sailors delight; Pink sky in morning, sailors warning”

It’s said that sailors (and shepherds) recognise a pink sunset as a positive omen that the following day will receive good weather. Similarly, a pink sunrise was an omen of foul and stormy weather to come. 

This old verse does have a scientific basis, but the message here is that change will always happen, sometimes planned, sometimes unexpected. Sometimes we need to make that change happen ourselves. 

2) Different perspectives abound.

The colour of clouds and sky depends on the angle of the sun’s light, in relation to the Earth’s atmosphere. What it looks like, depends on where you’re standing. 

So that’s what we hope to do in therapy – see things from a different angle, see that there are many perspectives, and it all depends on where we are now, where we’ve been and what we value.  Some of us will view the sky as dark and sinister, some will only see its beauty and magnificence. No one’s right, no one’s wrong.

3) Beauty surrounds us.

Research shows that appreciation of natural beauty improves our wellbeing – it makes us feel better! If you decide working with me isn’t right for you at this moment – that’s fine. At least you’ve had the chance to view some beautiful pink skies which have hopefully made you a tiny bit more appreciative of the beautiful world out there… and you’ll feel a little better (which is my goal for you).